03 April 2012

Quite a cool start to the morning although the BBC weather temp of 5c was slightly out as it was actually a bit warmer at 7c, with a light SWW breeze and showers from time to time it was ideal conditions for a migrant or two, visit from 06.30 til 09.20.

The first bird I heard as I entered the park was a Chiffchaff, in total 8 were heard and seen around the park with the highest number being as usual on the old sewage works, were three were seen together, a Collared Dove flew across the playing field and another was seen later on the old sewage works, a Mistle Thrush was collecting nest material from around the boating lake and the first of two Blackcaps was singing from the small wood here with the other being on the back railway path in the reserve, on the main lake 28 Tufted Duck, two Goldeneye (pair), two Great Crested Grebe and 21 Mute Swans with another in the reserve area, a single Great Spotted Woodpecker was by the second gate.

Lesser Black-backed Gulls were flying over in small numbers all morning with nearly all heading in a NW direction and most were adults, also flying over a single Redwing with two late Fieldfare and a couple of Meadow Pipits, a Reed Bunting was calling on the old sewage works but nothing else on here or the old gas works, along the canal side of the main lake a Treecreeper was calling with a further two in the reserve with two Willow Tits, a Jay and two Bullfinch.

I'd pretty much given up for the day, there had been several showers and it had gone rather dark when I noticed a single Sand Martin flying around the main lake, this was soon joined by another two and then a Swallow arrived the first of the year for Westport followed by another, I was hoping to add House Martin as well with Nick Smith having one yesterday afternoon but alas that one eluded me, but another Sand Martin came in making four in total, all in all not a bad morning, I'm away at the weekend so hopefully a few more migrants will arrive in the next two days before I go.